Guide to the Papers of Ernest Westlake (as filmed by the AJCP)
M2413 - M2414
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2019
Online Items
Series Box I. Ernest Westlake: Papers, 17 June 1916 - 1976
Six Tasmanian notebooks - rough jottings of stories told by Tasmanians, extracts from books (c.561p.), n.d. (File 1-6)
Letters and miscellaneous notes on Trucanine and other Tasmanian Indigenous Australians (c.19 items) (File 7)
Correspondents include Fritz Noetling, Hobart, 18 November 1908; Henry Atkinson, Brookside, 24 May 1910; Mrs S.A. Hughes, Kettering, 8 December 1908; F.W. Beattie, Hobart, 5 February 1911 and 6 July 1911; Priscilla Wells, Charlbury, 5 August 1908; 14 November 1910, Westlake to J.P. Moir describing a visit to Prof. Baldwin Spencer in Melbourne...
Correspondence regarding the Westlake collection of stone implements, 17 June 1916 - 23 January 1940 (File 8)
Includes 2 letters from F. Busher, British Museum (Natural History) to Westlake re. importing the collections and the possible theft of some items at the London docks, 17 June 1916...
Series Box II. Correspondence with his children Aubrey and Margaret from Tasmania, 24 September 1908 - 9 October 1910
85 letters, 24 September 1908 - 9 October 1910, written by Westlake from Hobart and various locations in Tasmania. The correspondence starts as his ship SS Afric leaves Liverpool and covers the daily life on board, excursions in Cape Town and landing in Western Australia and Adelaide before final landfall in Hobart. In the Tasmanian letters, Westlake comments, not always favourably, on the local people he meets - including J.P. Moir, Dr. Noetling, Rev. Wilkinson, Mr Peterd and ex-premier Reibey; the weather, the scenery, the flies and the local food - he does not like Australian produce cheese or chocolate and deplores the Protectionist policy which prevent sale of English varieties. He details the field trips he makes round Tasmania and the local islands in search of flints, implements, and people with recollections of the aborigines There is a vivid description of his time in gaol due to a faulty bicycle lamp and an over officious policeman. On May 9, 1910, he visits South Bruni Island with Moir to photograph the eclipse of the sun. He comments on the similarities between the Quakers and the Tasmanian Indigenous Australians who both believe in the guidance of the spirit, and he deplores the morals of the present-day Tasmanians, who as the descendants of convicts, make it impossible to leave anything unprotected. Letters 83-84, 16 June - 12 July 1910 are written on the homeward voyage and describe a visit to Prof. Baldwin Spencer at Melbourne University. Letter 85 9 October 1919 is to Aubrey about his schooling.
Series. Exercise Books, 1826 - 17 June 1911
2 Derwent Exercise Books, c. 1826 -1876 (File 1)
These contain manuscript notes and excerpts from Tasmanian newspapers concerning Indigenous Australians. Papers, c.1826-1876, include Hobart Mercury; Hobart Town Gazette; Hobart Town Courier; Tasmanian; Colonial Times (44p. and 40p.)
3 Blank Exercise Books and Museum Notebook, 1 April 1905 - 17 June 1911 (File 2)
Two contain lists of words and language notes. (38p. & 15p.) One contains extracts from Rev. Atkinson "Talks with a Naturalist" Church News 1 April, 1 July, 1 August, 1 November 1905, and details his meetings with Truganini and descriptions of her life on North Bruni Island. 8p. At the back 7p and one loose page of word lists, crossed out...